9,200 hours of volunteering and counting South Bend's Gentry happy to volunteer for past 25 years at library.

August 17, 2006|JIM MEENAN

Tribune Staff Writer Soft-spoken, kind-hearted, a team player. All those words easily describe 75-year-old Nancy Gentry. But after 9,200 hours of volunteer service over a 25-year span at the St. Joseph County Public Library's Western and LaSalle branches, you could also add the word competitor. She readily admits she would like to put a record up for volunteer hours that can never be broken. "Yes, I would like to," said Nancy, a former stay-at-home mother of six children, now a grandmother and great-grandmother who uses some of her spare time to give 10 hours a week to the library. And, yes, reaching 10,000 hours of volunteer service is a goal, too. "She always looks forward to coming to work," says her husband of 45 years, Hunter Gentry, who drives her there and back each time. "She's here early but always wants to leave late. She does (really enjoy it)." And the LaSalle Branch Library, where she has been the last nine years after 16 years at the Western Branch, is glad to have her. "She does anything that we ask of her," said her boss, Alesia Brubaker, assistant branch head librarian. "There's a lot that would not get done around here if it wasn't for her. "She does everything from re-covering and mending books to putting away videos, processing magazines, even making recommendations to patrons." "She's an exceptional volunteer," said Imogene Gemberling, human resources assistant for the St. Joseph County Public Library who coordinates volunteers. "It's just hard to put into words. We rely heavily on volunteers to help the branches behind the scenes. They are very much a part of the library." Nancy enjoys being a part of it, too. "I like working with the public," she said. "I like the staff." She says she chose the library long ago because she reads so much, usually fiction. "And the lady that was kind of my mentor, she wanted me to come to work, so I did," she added of the late Carol Cosby. Nancy said some of the ways libraries have changed over the years are the use of computers for both staff and the public, and the change to DVDs from VHS tapes. As she stood at the makeshift ship the library has in its children's section, she spoke with pride about how the kids love it there. Her smile and calm demeanor looked to be a good fit in the entire room. But alas, it was time to leave again and Nancy was running late ---- as usual ---- and in no hurry to depart. Hunter waited patiently at the front desk. "She enjoys it so much," he said, "she's not going to quit." "They won't let me quit," said Nancy. "I just love it."Staff writer Jim Meenan: jmeenan@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6342